If you think Portland is simply a city filled with neurotic “Portlandia” types — vintage-clad, eco-conscious, organic, free-trade coffee-drinking, chicken-raising über-hipsters — you’d be wrong. Sure, you’ll find all that (which is pretty cool), but you’ll also find that Portland is a dynamic, cosmopolitan city offering cutting-edge restaurants, upscale shopping and vibrant arts. n And since it likes being green, Portland makes it easy to go carless. Take the fantastic MAX Light Rail (the public transportation system) or simply walk. With a short 2½ hour flight from San Diego, Portland may just become your weekend getaway destination of choice.

Friday

1 p.m: Kick off your weekend with a fun lunch on the go at one of Portland’s food truck “pods,” which collectively house more than 500 trucks (www.foodcartsportland.com). You’ll feel energized by the spicy pork tacos with Korean BBQ sauce at Korean Twist or the Tofu Seaweed Wrap and pork pot stickers at Bulkogi Fusion (SW 5th Avenue and Oak Street).

2 p.m. : Soak in some culture at the Portland Art Museum (portlandartmuseum.org), which has impressive collections of Asian, Native American and Northwest art.

7 p.m.: Head over to Living Room Theaters (341 SW Tenth Ave.), a sleek movie house with a cafe/bar where you can share small plates and drinks before your flick.

10 p.m.: Enjoy a late-night dinner at Clyde Common, a foodie hangout housed in the hip Ace Hotel (1014 SW Stark St.). Cozy up to a communal table to chat with locals while you savor seasonally inspired and artisan dishes such as fiddlehead fern pasta, roasted local steelhead (trout) with barley, blood oranges and carrot vinaigrette, and grilled steak with bone marrow, smoked onions and roasted vegetable gratin.

There's usually a long line at Portland's iconic Voodoo Doughnuts. Susan Russo

Saturday

9 a.m.: It’s time for a caffeine and sugar buzz, so put on your comfortable shoes, head over to the famed Voodoo Doughnuts (22 SW 3rd Ave.), and be prepared to wait (it’s worth it). Try kitschy treats like The Loop, a vanilla frosted doughnut covered in Fruit Loops, or go with a classic glazed or French cruller. Take your treats, exit Voodoo, turn left, and a few doors down, enter one of the many Portland-born Stumptown Coffee Roasters for a rich brew. Voodoo and Stumptown make a beautiful couple.

10 a.m.: Burn off some of your doughnut calories with a walk through the outdoor Portland Saturday Market (portlandsaturdaymarket.com); it has a dazzling array of local artisan-produced arts and crafts ranging from jewelry and textiles to glassware and pottery.

1:30 p.m.: Pop across the street to Powell’s City of Books (1005 West Burnside), the Promised Land for bookworms. With close to 70,000 square feet of retail space, it’s easy to get lost, so grab a map on your way in. Really. Then, explore, read and relax.

4 p.m.: Feel like shopping Portland-style? There are myriad indie stores in the downtown area including Jonny Soles (fashion-forward men’s and women’s shoes), Mercantile (discriminating women’s apparel and jewelry), Pinkham (women’s millinery), and Canoe (minimalist, modern home accessories, jewelry, toys, and books).

8:30 p.m.: Reserve a table at The Imperial (inside Hotel Lucia), one of Portland’s hottest restaurants. Start the evening with a superb handcrafted cocktail such as the “New Money” made with single barrel bourbon, amaro, hickory vermouth and bitters. For a sublime starter, order the tender duck meatballs with sweet prunes, aromatic spices and orange gremolata. If you’re game, try the fried rabbit served atop a semolina corn cake with pickled watermelon rind and Laurelhurst honey or the spit-roasted lamb with farro, grilled radicchio and mint chutney.

Sunday

9 a.m.: Walk a couple of blocks to Public Domain (603 SW Broadway) for exceptional handcrafted coffees made to order.

10 a.m.: Walk to the Pearl Street District to brunch at Irving Street Kitchen (701 NW 13th Ave.), which offers memorable dishes such as the salmon gravlax benedict with buttermilk biscuits, arugula and dill Hollandaise, and Mary’s Organic fried chicken and waffles with fried egg and buttermilk syrup. Then explore the district’s many unique independent shops such as EcoVibe Apparel (eco-conscious women’s apparel), Hunt & Gather (custom furnishings and local artwork), and Eden (new and vintage jewelry, clothing, fixtures, books and more).

2 p.m.: Depending on your mood, walk to the Pearl Street Bakery (102 NW 9th Ave.) for a pick-me-up coffee and confection such as a ginger peach macaron or espresso walnut brownie. Or grab some pub grub and a cold one at Deschutes (210 NW 11th Ave.), Portland’s award-winning brewery, offering an impressive variety of IPAs, ales, porters and sours.

4 p.m.: Head to the airport.

Getting to Portland

Southwest offers nonstop flights to Portland with competitive pricing. Downtown Portland is a 20-minute taxi ride from Portland International Airport and costs about $38. The MAX Light Rail red line (www.trimet.org) takes about 40 minutes and costs $2.50.

Recommended hotel

The centrally located Hotel Lucia is a vogue boutique hotel that includes two restaurants: The Imperial (featured above) and The Penny Diner (offering gourmet sandwiches, snacks and craft cocktails). 400 SW Broadway, (866) 986-8086, www.hotellucia.com. Doubles range from $194 to $324.